Second to Nun: Musical comedy ‘Nunsense,’ returns

“Nunsense” a musical comedy from the 1980s that found great success off-Broadway, returns to the Quincy stage later this month.

The comedy tells the story of a group of nuns who suffer the sudden death by accidental poisoning of several of the convent’s sisters. To pay for the burials, the nuns decide to put on a variety show.
Things quickly go from the stern to the spectacular and from the funereal to the flamboyant with the nuns, who share their dreams and tribulations with the audience through a compilation of showtunes.The original “Nunsense” ran for 10 years as an off-Broadway show, the second-longest off-Broadway show in history, with more than 3,600 shows.
Quincy Valley Allied Arts’ version has a streak of its own. This summer’s shows are the second time QVAA has put on “Nunsense.”
“We did this show 16 years ago, when Quincy Valley Allied Arts first got started up,” said Sherri Kooy, the self-described designated director of this summer’s version of the musical. She also plays the role of Sister Robert Ann.
All of the actors, except one, will reprise their roles from 16 years ago.
The group struggled to decide on what show to put on this year, Kooy said. They joked about reviving “Nunsense,”every year for the past four years.
“Until finally, we just decided to do it,” she said.
Putting on the habit after a 16-year hiatus does not come without its challenges. The cast’s knees are 16 years older, for starters.
“A few of my cast members are refusing to go down on their knees and pray, so I have had to revise a lot of the choreography,” Kooy said. Another struggle, she added with a laugh, is to remember the lines.
Nancy Connelly is reprising her role as Sister Huber; Kooy is also reprising her role, as is Vonna Harris.
The comedy has a sequel named “Nunsense 2” which QVAA has also performed. Melissa Martinez played Sister Leo in the sequel and she will reprise her role in this summer’s production of the original.
In the original Nunsense 1 and 2, a man played the role of Mother Superior. This summer’s production will also feature a man in the role, Patrick Connelly.
“He fit it perfectly, he attended Catholic school and he loves the theater,” Kooy said. Connelly is one of two men in the cast, which also includes Tom Harris.
Passage of time aside, Kooy added, the residents of the convent of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, are giving Father Time all it can handle.
“We are having a ball,” she said. “It’s been like meeting an old friend.”
The show plays July 14-16 at three different locations.
The July 14 show will be at the stage on Lauzier Park in Quincy. The July 15 show will be at the outdoor stage in George, and July 16 it will be on the stage at White Heron Cellars in Trinidad.
Tickets are $5, all shows start at 7 p.m.
The show is rated “PG to PG-13” Kooy said, due to a dose of innuendo that’s “a little strong,” she added.